The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-12-16
ROyBRs OF THE PLAINS.
Shooting Wild Horses in Australia.--
The Steed OF the Pampas--A Ques-
tiOn.

Very young students, In their first at
tempt at composition, often inform US
that the horse is a useful animal. This
sweeping generalization is subject to
important notifications before 1t is ac-
cepted in all communities. There are
many thousands CT horses that toll not
like their noble progenitors, but go like
the wind where it lisreth, and are look
ed upon as IntOleIauie nuisances in the
civilized regions they sometimes invade.
Our Australian friends, for instance,
are no lovers OF the horse in his uu-
tanned state, and some ot the colonies
set price upon his head, and do all they
can to stimulate movements for his de-
struction. Seven thousand wild horses
1875. These rovers of the plains play
the mischief with domesticateG ami
mails when they come among them, and
the colonists are very much disgusted
TO observe with what ease the noble
horse relapses into barbarism, and for
getting his oats and other comforts OF
civilization, runs off with his wild
brethren who have not enjoyed his su-
perior advantages.
1t mast be confessed tbat our horses
need the Iestraints imposed upon them
to prevent them from disgracing the ir
ancestors, who were certainly domesti-
Gated ybep they uara iptrp1ucad int
this country. Years ago it used to be
the custom in our southwestern terri
tory TO brand the young stock, and even
many work animals, and turn them
loose to SHIFT for themselves for year or
two. When they were wanted they
were always as wild as Mexican mus
tapgs. Mr.. Powell wrote a book on
the best methods of tanning wild horses.
The specimens en- which he exerted his
talents as tanner were for the most
part formerly domesticated animals,
who had forgotten all about their old
resiIains while wandering over .he
plains of our southwestern territory.
Travellers IN the western territories
are no longer in danger OF such irrup-
tiou of horse flesh as Murray describes
in lis Travels in North America. -"
lie uo5 only witnessed a stampede OF
thousands of panic stricken horses, hut
the living torrent swept along toward
and over his camp, trampling skins and
meat into the ground, knocking down
some of the tents and taking with them
Rll bis horses except his riding mare,
who vaiuly struggled 70 break her fas-
tenirgs, They still range, in much
smaller herds than formerly. on the
plains Of The upper Colorado but the
horse, like the buffalo, is disappearing
before the advance of the white man.
In spite OF the experience OF the Aus,
tralians, many peoples, chiefly savage,
have been able u turn the Wild horse
TO good account. Hundreds of thous-
ands of Mexican mustangs have been
reduced To servltude. The wild horse Of
the South American pampas, which
three centuries ago, only fifty years
after the horse was introduced from
Europe, had spread 10 regions as re
mote as Patagonia, has been tanned by
thousands, and has become the pseful
servent of Indian tribes.
Naturalists often discuss the question
whether there is now in the world such
creature rs an aboriginal, OF truly
wild horse. We know very we'll that
the wild horses of the western hemIs-
phere are al! descendants of domestica-
ted animals. Where, then, is the abo-
rigiual wild horse 20 be found ? The
question Will probably never be settled.
Mr.. j. ii. Steel, who recently Iead au
paper on wild EOrSes'' be,
fore the Bombay Natural History soci-
ETY., thinks the evidence is in favor Of
the existence of the wild horse, ir cen
trail ASH. Gesner. the great authority !
On zoology of the Sixteenth century,
was of the same opinion, but The evil |
ience has often been questioned, and |
the assertion cannot positively be made |
hat The wild horse Of the great noun
.ain region which the Russians are now
IS not himself the deceudant |
Of ancient dJmesticated animals.
Another question of scientific impOr-
lance as yet unsolved is whether two or
three years run on the pampas would |
the avel age stTest car plug, /
develop the latent sayegeTy of his Ii
lure and make a wild horse OF him. II
he equine liberty and freedom from hu-
man restraint could arhiye miracle OF
'uch proportions it would he very inter
sting TO know it,